Victory in Case of Pro-Life Counselor Charged With Harassment for Citing Scripture

I previously reported on a case I tried in October involving longtime pro-life stalwart, George Krail of Mt. Holly, New Jersey. Krail, a colorful and courageous presence outside the notorious Cherry Hill Women’s Center for the past 25 years, had been charged with criminal harassment by the Center’s director after he quoted to her the words of Jesus in Matthew 18 about harming little ones, millstones, and being thrown into the depths of the sea. The director claimed that she felt threatened by this and brought Krail up on a charge that carried with it the possibility of, among other things, a 30–day stint in the Camden County jail. The case was tried on October 1st before the Hon. Jeffrey H. Karl in the Cherry Hill Municipal Court.  At the conclusion of the trial, the court took the matter under advisement.

We received word this week that the Court has found George Krail not guilty. This is a welcome victory not only for Krail, but also for all those who wish to speak out publicly on behalf of unborn children and their mothers who all too often have no one to speak for them.  Defending the constitutional rights of prolife sidewalk counselors and others in the fight against abortion has been a hallmark of the ACLJ’s work from the very beginning. From the local municipal courts all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States, we have tirelessly worked and will continue to work to ensure that the First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of speech is not curtailed or diminished at the behest of the abortion industry.